The NFL is already halfway through the regular season. In the first half, it has treated its fans to several surprises that fans and pundits didn’t see coming. Fortunately for them, they had Vwin88 , a leading sports site in Asia, providing the latest scores and score predictions. It’s been nine months of action, and things haven’t happened as many would have expected. In this piece, we look at the first half surprises and the projections of the second half.
Notable First-Half Surprises
49ers Have Continued Sinking
Around 21 months ago, the 49ers seemed to have the best NFL roster. Moreover, they boasted the best young coaching mind in the industry. However, they are 9-15, and they were beaten convincingly by a Cardinals team quarterbacked by Colt McCoy.
The tragedy with the 49ers is that they look like a very ordinary team regardless of who takes snaps. So far, they have won three games on the road, albeit against poor teams.
The Bengals Are on The Rise
Their other surprise of the first half of the season is Zac Taylor and the Bengals. At the beginning of the season, many pundits did not expect much from the team, but Taylor has the team playing tough. Moreover, the team looks different from what people are used to in the past seasons.
Their rise has coincided with brilliant performances from the likes of Joe Burrow and Chase, who at some point was looking like he was in the running for offensive player of the year.
What Should You Expect In The Second Half?
What Next For Baker Mayfield?
Mayfield started this season without a contract extension. He is in his fourth season in the NFL, and the contract situation seemed to have set him up for a prove-it season. However, at the moment, a new contract for Mayfield and the Browns does not seem to be likely.
He has shown glimpses of what he can do when he is at his best. But, the second season will be decisive in guiding the Browns to determine his contract situation. He is currently on a rookie contract that runs up to 2022.
Titans Will Make Do without King Henry
Titans are the other big surprises of the season so far. They seem to be constantly under fire, but they always find a way to live up to the challenge. Their best move was to bring in Mike Vrabel, who has played a crucial role in their first half of the season.
Unfortunately for them, losing Derrick Henry would prove to be detrimental. However, his absence would provide the Titans the ultimate chance to prove the theory of running back value that has been discussed for some time.
Is Seattle Expecting A Significant Change?
Another thing fans will be following closely is Pete Carrol’s job status. Pete has already turned 70 and has won one playoff game. However, his franchise quarterback has publicly advocated for remarkable changes.
Pete will always be a Seahawks legend whenever he leaves. But, at the moment, it seems like his franchise believes their team would be better off with someone different. Therefore, there are likely to be changes at Seahawks come the end of the season.